Travel Agent - September 10, 2007 - (Page 12)

Vital Signs News You Can Use style brand company, rather than a pure lodging one. “Frits is an extremely talented and proven leader with demonstrated success in driving both top- and bottom-line growth on a global scale across a variety of leading consumer lifestyle companies,” said Starwood’s Duncan. Coors Exec “Hops” Into Starwood CEO Seat Starwood Hotels & Resorts (www.starwood hotels.com) tapped into the beer industry to find its new chief. After a five-month search, Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced last week that the former CEO of Molson Coors Brewing Company, Frits van Paasschen, will join Starwood as its CEO, effective September 24. Bruce Duncan, who served as Starwood’s interim CEO after Steven Heyer left in April, will continue his role as Starwood’s chairman. The hiring caps a period of executive uncertainty for the hotel company, whose brands include W, Westin, Sheraton and St. Regis. Heyer was ostensibly ousted from Starwood after clashes with the company’s board over his management style, yet allegations of sexual malfeasance later surfaced. Heyer walked away from the company without his $35 million severance package. Van Paasschen, 46, like Heyer, came from the beverage industry (Heyer with the Coca-Cola Company), both are branding gurus and neither had prior hotel experience. Unlike some other hotel companies, Starwood considers itself a global lifeCEO of Molson Coors Brewing Company, van Paasschen reversed nine quarters of decline in the Coors Light brand and increased overall sales, profits and volumes. Prior to joining Coors, van Paasschen worked for another globally recognized brand—Nike. There, he was responsible for its Europe, Van Paasschen’s Middle East and Africa Charge business and doubled Frits van Paasschen, Starwood Hotels profits over a four-year Van Paasschen will & Resorts’ new CEO look to extend this span. knowledge across The Wall Street Starwood’s stable of nine brands, as he Journal reported that van Paasschen also readies himself for the imminent was actually the dark horse among three openings of Starwood’s newest brands, candidates, Paul Pressler, former CEO of Aloft and Element. Gap Inc., and John Cahill, former CEO of Andrew Didora, an analyst with JefPepsi, being the others, but his vision for fries & Co., last week backed the van the company pushed him ahead. Paasschen hiring, noting his 20 years of Undoubtedly, van Paasschen has his global brand experience and a proven own ideas for running the company, track record of improving sales. During but if they at all resemble Heyer’s optwo-and-a-half years as president and erational ideology, he could do worse. While Heyer’s character may have been questionable, his performance was not. His few years spent at Starwood included Viewers have until September 15 to view six online “webisodes” of the “Ultimate Adventure divesting much of the company’s owned Challenge,” Hyatt Resorts’ series featuring the adventures of five U.S. families as they compete real estate, thereby creating generin activities in different destinations, and vote for their favorite family, thereby entering themselves ous monetary returns, and focusing on into the contest to win 50 free nights at any Hyatt worldwide. The contest and series were created property management. However, unlike to recognize the rise in advenHeyer, van Paasschen will call White ture travel and highlight Hyatt’s Plains, NY, Starwood’s corporate headThe five families of “Ultimate Adventure Challenge” adventurous offerings. quarters, home. (Heyer was famously “We aimed to engage famiunrelenting, choosing to commute from lies on vacation and encourage Atlanta rather than live in White Plains, them to experience the unique which was Starwood’s preference.) destination-specific activities at Van Paasschen seems pleasantly each property,” said Scott Seed, optimistic over Starwood’s future. director of resort marketing. The “This is an exciting period of transwinner will be announced Sepformation for Starwood,” he said, “as tember 28. Visit www.hyatt it establishes itself as a leading global adventurechallendge.com. hotel operator and lifestyle company —David Eisen with many outstanding brands.” —David Eisen Voting Ends for Hyatt’s Reality Show September 15 12 TravelAgent September 10, 2007 http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.hyattadventurechallenge.com http://www.hyattadventurechallenge.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 10, 2007

Contents Editor's Letter News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week South America Rising: COVER STORY EUROPE: Undiscovered Croatia PACIFIC/ASIA: Chiang Mai: Hotspot of Northern Thailand LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas’ Inside Man Las Vegas News & Notes Las Vegas: The New Frontier PACIFIC NORTHWEST: A Gem on Oregon’s Central Coast FLORIDA: Hyatt Regency Miami Spruces Up Ensemble Update Agent Outlook: Cruising Today Nantucket Island Resorts Classified Marketplace Home-Based Travel Expo Update Advertisers’ Information People & Places Thailand Planner

Travel Agent - September 10, 2007

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